The author is a Presbyterian planter from Scotland who was given 1,500 acres of land in county Tyrone as part of the Ulster Plantation established by King James I. The plantation brought Protestant settlers from Scotland and England to Ireland in order to establish a loyal Protestant population, generate revenue through rents, and displace the Gaelic Irish population. As an undertaker, the planter is responsible for meeting conditions like building a stone enclosure and is prohibited from having Gaelic Irish tenants. While the plantation has successfully spread English culture and Protestant religions, the Gaelic Irish still pose a threat through occasional attacks from hiding places in forests and hills, risking an uprising against the plantation's success.

1. A Planter in Ulster
I’m a planter in the Ulster Plantation. The
plantation was organised by King James I. I am a
Presbyterian from Scotland and I have been given
land in county Tyrone. I am an undertaker which
means I have to meet certain conditions to keep
my land. There are other planters here called
servitors. They are English soldiers who fought in
the Nine Years war. The land they have was given
to them as payment for their service. A small
number of loyal Irish were also given land.
King James I wants to create a loyal protestant
population in Ireland. He also wants to get money
for the crown through renting his land. The land
that the crown kept was used to found new towns
such as Omagh. As an undertaker I am not allowed
to have Gaelic Irish tenants. However my rent is
lower than the servitors and the loyal Irish. I have
been given an estate of 1,500 acres and on this I
must build a stone enclosure to protect myself. My

2. land is near Londonderry which the king had given
to the merchants of London to plant.
I think the plantation has been a great success.
English law, culture and language is spreading in
Ulster all of the time. Religion is also getting
strong with the Church of England and
Presbyterianism. We are driving away
Catholicism. The Gaelic Irish have not completely
gone away. They hide in the forests and hills and
sometimes attack us. I am afraid that this might
result in a revolt. However we are making the
plantation a great success. We have introduced
new farming methods such as the growing of flax.